Parents at war over infant’s life support

A father is fighting moves by a hospital to withdraw the support keeping his one-year-old son alive

Parents at war over infant's life support

A father is fighting moves by a hospital to withdraw the support keeping his one-year-old son alive

The hospital wants to get a court order that will allow it to take the boy off life support. But the application has divided the one-year-old boy's parents, who are in their 20s.

The mother is supporting the hospital's bid, which is due to go before London's High Court today. But the father, who is 'amicably separated' from the mother, is fighting the move.

The baby, known as Baby RB, was born with congenital myasthenic syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes muscle weakness.

Lawyers for the father, however, say that the little boy's brain has not been affected so he is aware of his surroundings, can see, hear and feel and recognise his parents.u00a0

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Despite being dependent on a ventilator to breath, he enjoys being read stories and listening to music, they say.

If the hospital application is successful it would be the first time that a British court has, against a parent's will, determined that life support can be withdrawn for a child who is not suffering brain damage.

The father believes a simple tracheostomy, which creates an opening in the neck to deliver oxygen to the lungs, would allow his son to be discharged and cared for at home.

He hopes that video footage of the boy playing in hospital will persuade the court to reject the hospital's application.

The hospital, however, says the baby's quality of life is so low that it would not be in his best interests to save him.

Solicitor Christopher Cuddihee, who is acting for the father, said, "The father feels very strongly that Baby RB has a quality of life that demands the trust should continue to provide life-sustaining treatment."

300
The number of people in the UK to suffer from congenital myasthenic syndrome

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